How to Make Your Own Paper - Kid Friendly Instructions

I just found great instructions on how to make your own paper -- and in this one, you don't need a food processor or even a blender or an iron either. A whisk and a rolling pin will suffice.

Too many of the other recipes call for the use of machines to blend and a hot iron to remove excess water from the pulp, which I don't think is child-friendly enough to really be able to just let the kids "own" this project.

Anyway, the instructions are in PDF format at EcoKidsOnline, which basically tell you to:

• Tear scrap paper into tiny pieces and soak in a bucket of hot water for 30 minutes.

• Take a handful of the soaked paper out at a time and whisk until it is a creamy pulp. Add a small amount of vegetable scraps or dye for color (or even leaves for added texture).

• Pour a inch of water into a pan (in which pan you've already fitted a screen). Pour one cup of the blended pulp onto the screen, and spread evenly.

• Lift screen out with pulp on top; let water drain.

• Lay pulp-covered screen face down on a cloth (tea towel) or in between some newspaper. Lift the screen away, leaving the paper pulp on the cloth. Cover with another cloth. Use a rolling pin to flatten and press out excess moisture.

• Let dry for at least 24 hours.

• Use.

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